22 U.S. Code § 5801 - Definition of independent states

For purposes of this Act, the terms “independent states of the former Soviet Union” and “independent states” mean the following: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

This Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 102–511, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3320, as amended, known as the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 and also as the FREEDOM Support Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

Short Title of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–82, § 1,Jan. 3, 2012, 125 Stat. 1863, provided that: “This Act [amending provisions set out as a note under section
5811 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011’.”

Short Title of 2007 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–480, § 1,Jan. 12, 2007, 120 Stat. 3666, provided that: “This Act [enacting and amending provisions set out as notes under section
5811 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006’.”

Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–199, § 1,Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2317, provided that: “This Act [amending sections
295,
2301,
2364,
2370,
2460,
2461,
2578,
2591,
2592,
2595,
2799c,
2799d,
4501 to
4504,
4702, and
4901 of this title, section
4101 of Title
15, Commerce and Trade, sections
1151 and
1152 of Title
16, Conservation, section
951 of Title
18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, section
783 of Title
50, War and National Defense, and sections
2401 and
2402 of Title
50, Appendix, repealing sections
254c–2,
2592a, and
2592b of this title, sections
781,
782,
784,
785,
788 to
795, and
798 of Title
50, and section
2403–1 of Title
50, Appendix, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, sections
113 and
2431 of Title
10, Armed Forces, and section
2402 of Title
50, Appendix, amending provisions set out as notes under section
4501 of this title, section 113 ofTitle
10, section
2901 of Title 15, and section 1003 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections
287,
2151,
2293,
2458, and
4301 of this title, section
1307 of Title
19, Customs Duties, and section
781 of Title
50] may be cited as the ‘Act For Reform In Emerging New Democracies and Support and Help for Improved Partnership with Russia, Ukraine, and Other New Independent States’ or as the ‘FRIENDSHIP Act’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 102–511, § 1,Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3320, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and sections
282m,
282n,
286e–1l, 286e–5b, 286e–13, 286ll, 286mm, 288j, 2295 to 2295c, and 5402 of this title, amending sections
262d,
2370,
2507, and
4903 of this title and sections
1736o,
3293,
5602,
5621,
5622, and
5651 of Title
7, Agriculture, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections
2295a,
2452,
2753,
4903, and
5812 of this title, section
5621 of Title
7, and section
955 of Title
18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending provisions set out as notes under section
2452 of this title, section
5622 of Title
7, and sections
1157 and
1255 of Title
8, Aliens and Nationality, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section
2452 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992’ or the ‘FREEDOM Support Act’.”

“The purpose of this Act [see Short Title of 1993 Amendment note above] is to amend or repeal numerous statutory provisions that restrict or otherwise impede normal relations between the United States and the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union. All of the statutory provisions amended or repealed by this Act were relevant and appropriate at the time of enactment, but with the end of the Cold War, they have become obsolete. It is not the purpose of this Act to rewrite or erase history, or to forget those who suffered in the past from the injustices or repression of communist regimes in the Soviet Union, but rather to update United States law to reflect changed international circumstances and to demonstrate for reformers and democrats in the independent states of the former Soviet Union the resolve of the people of the United States to support the process of democratic and economic reform and to conduct business with those states in a new spirit of friendship and cooperation.

“(1) The Vancouver Declaration issued by President Clinton and President Yeltsin in April 1993 marked a new milestone in the development of the spirit of cooperation and partnership between the United States and Russia. The Congress affirms its support for the principles contained in the Vancouver Declaration.

“(2) The Vancouver Declaration underscored that—

“(A) a dynamic and effective partnership between the United States and Russia is vital to the success of Russia’s historic transformation;

“(B) the rapid integration of Russia into the community of democratic nations and the world economy is important to the national interest of the United States; and

“(C) cooperation between the United States and Russia is essential to the peaceful resolution of international conflicts and the promotion of democratic values, the protection of human rights, and the solution of global problems such as environmental pollution, terrorism, and narcotics trafficking.

“(3) The Congress enacted the FREEDOM Support Act (Public Law 102–511) [see Short Title note above], as well as other legislation such as the Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act of 1991 (title II of Public Law 102–228) [22 U.S.C. 2551 note] and the Former Soviet Union Demilitarization Act of 1992 (title XIV of Public Law 102–484) [22 U.S.C. 5901 et seq.], to help meet the historic opportunities and challenges presented by the transformation that has taken place, and is continuing to take place, in what once was the Soviet Union.

“(4) The process of reform in Russia, Ukraine, and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union is ongoing. The holding of a referendum in Russia on April 25, 1993, that was free and fair, and that reflected the support of the Russian people for the process of continued and strengthened democratic and economic reform, represents an important and encouraging hallmark in this ongoing process.

“(5) There remain in force many United States laws that are relics of the Cold War, and repeals or revisions of these provisions can play an important role in efforts to foster and strengthen the bonds of trust and friendship, as well as mutually beneficial trade and economic relations, between the United States and Russia, the United States and Ukraine, and the United States and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union.

“SEC.
103. STATUTORY PROVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPLICABLE TO THE SOVIET UNION.

“(a) In General.—There are numerous statutory provisions that were enacted in the context of United States relations with a country, the Soviet Union, that are fundamentally different from the relations that now exist between the United States and Russia, between the United States and Ukraine, and between the United States and the other independent states of the former Soviet Union.

“(b) Extent of Such Provisions.—Many of the provisions referred to in subsection (a) imposed limitations specifically with respect to the Soviet Union, and its constituent republics, or utilized language that reflected the tension that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union at the time of their enactment. Other such provisions did not refer specifically to the Soviet Union, but nonetheless were directed (or may be construed as having been directed) against the Soviet Union on the basis of the relations that formerly existed between the United States and the Soviet Union, particularly in its role as the leading communist country.

“(c) Findings and Affirmation.—The Congress finds and affirms that provisions such as those described in this section, including—

“(4) the Multilateral Export Control Enhancement Amendments Act [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note set out under section
2410 of Title
50, App., War and National Defense] (50 [App.] U.S.C. 2410 note, et seq.),

should not be construed as being directed against Russia, Ukraine, or the other independent states of the former Soviet Union, connoting an adversarial relationship between the United States and the independent states, or signifying or implying in any manner unfriendliness toward the independent states.”

Definitions for Pub. L. 103–199

Pub. L. 103–199, § 3,Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat. 2318, provided that: “As used in this Act [see Short Title of 1993 Amendment note above] (including the amendments made by this Act), the terms ‘independent states of the former Soviet Union’ and ‘independent states’ have the meaning given those terms by section 3 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5801).”

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